In the article above I recount the story of William H. Carney, a hero who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for valor for his inspirational service with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment during the legendary assault on Fort Wagner.

He was struck with one shot, but not being felled he continued, and then was struck with a second shot. On his struggle to cross the beach to the rear he met a member of the 100th New York Regiment who started to assist him, when Carney was struck with another shot in the head. The other soldier asked Carney to let him carrier the colors so he could more easily walk, but Carney refused, saying that no one other than a member of the 54th Massachusetts should carry the colors.

Finally, after an unlikely arrival alive at the rear guard hospital area, he saw his wounded and dying comrades who saw him carrying their colors and cheered him. He was able to tell them “Boys, the old flag never touched the ground.”

Of course, that was in the America of Lincoln. In the God damn America of Obama, a thirteen-year-old girl is vilified for drawing a picture of her beloved American flag in a public school art class.